Category: August Weeks

  • NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK – Second Week in August

    NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK

    National Health Center Week in August recognizes the benefits of having a high-quality healthcare delivery system in every community.

    Health Centers provide quality, cost-effective, accessible care while serving as critical economic engines helping to power local economies. As the primary goal of a health center, the facility enhances the visibility of community, homeless, and public housing centers; and to generate community pride and build support for the health centers program.

    According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 1 in 15 Americans depends on health care services. More than 330,000 veterans, a 14% increase from 2014, expected to increase as more health centers participate in the Veterans Choice Act. The Administration further reports 1 in 3 people living in poverty; 1 in 6 people in rural communities; and 1 in 10 children 17 years or younger will use health center services.

    While we recognize the contributions to our communities through events, members of Congress will visit facilities across the country. Our nation’s health centers benefit from the support of senators and representatives of all parties. Throughout the celebration, certain days honor the doctors, nurses, staffers, and volunteers who keep these facilities going. Another day highlights those healthcare heroes who take care of our kids.

    No matter how we participate, knowing preserving accessible care is vital to our communities. Take part in events near you and learn how your health center provides for your local area.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Find local events near you. Or, consider getting the community involved in the national effort. Go to HealthCenterWeek.org for more information.

    Use #NationalHealthCenterWeek in social media.

    HISTORY

    National Association of Community Health Centers founded National Health Center Week more than thirty years ago. Beginning with two facilities 54 years ago, the Health Center Program has grown to nearly 1,400 health centers with more than 11,000 sites in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin.

     

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  • NATIONAL HOBO WEEK – August 10-13

    NATIONAL HOBO WEEK

    National Hobo Week is observed in August in conjunction with the National Hobo Convention. The National Hobo Convention is held on the second weekend of every August since 1900 in the town of Britt, Iowa, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce, and known throughout the town as the annual “Hobo Day” celebration. Hobos set up their own camp (known as a hobo “jungle”) during the convention and peddle their wares and entertain the public. The National Hobo Convention is the largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps who gather to celebrate “the American traveling worker.” The week-long celebration includes a parade, food, arts and crafts, and entertainment, with the high point is the naming of the “King and Queen of Hobos.”

    A common misconception about hobos is that they do not work. Many hobos have a trade skill and were essentially traveling workers. They should not be compared to tramps who travel and don’t work, or bums, who don’t travel or work. Hobos are still out there and are not a thing of the past.

    HOBO LANGUAGE

    Among the most fascinating aspects of hobo culture is the language. You might want to consider brushing up on your hobo lingo before you head to the annual convention. Here are some of the most common of examples:

    • BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN – hobo heaven, or paradise, immortalized in song.
    • BIG HOUSE – jail.
    • BULL – security guard.
    • CAMP REFRIGERATOR – hole dug in the ground to keep food cool.
    • HOBO HIEROGLYPHICS – set of symbols used in hobo culture to communicate among themselves. The symbols can indicate anything from the availability of food and a place to sleep, to imminent danger of one form or another.
    • JUNGLE – hobo campsite.
    • REEFER – refrigerated boxcar.
    • WESTBOUND – a train a hobo dies on.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHoboWeek

    Plan to attend the National Hobo Convention. You could also research famous hobos such as Leon Ray Livingston, T-Bone Slim or Alexander Supertramp.

    Use #NationalHoboWeek in social media.

    Educators and Parents, check out the National Day Calendar Classroom for more ways to Celebrate Every Day!

    NATIONAL HOBO WEEK HISTORY

    In our research, we were unable to determine the origin of National Hobo Week.

     

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  • INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE DOG WEEK – Begins the First Sunday in August

    INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE DOG WEEK

    International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) begins the first Sunday in August and recognizes all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations. Elaine Smith receives credit for the use of therapy dogs due to the development of a training program in 1976.

    Assistance dogs come in two categories–Service Dogs and Facility Dogs. Service dogs are trained to do acts for people with disabilities, such as guide dogs do for the blind and hearing-impaired. Facility Dogs are used by working professionals to aid multiple people in special education or during physical therapy.

    Through a training program, owner and dog learn to work together and get to know each other. Throughout the course, they learn to knock on the doors or ringing the doorbell, alert their owner of a telephone ringing or if a smoke alarm goes off. The average training period for a training dog and its owner lasts about two months. The most popular breeds for assistance dogs include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds. These breeds are among the smartest and most trainable.

    Assistance Dog Etiquette 

    While on duty, assistance dogs have a job to do. With this in mind, if you see someone with an assistance dog, don’t get too close or try to pet it. Whether it safely guides its master or provides other services, distractions are dangerous. If you must approach, speak to the handler. Keep your own pet restrained and at a distance. Don’t assume a napping service dog is off-duty. If you see a service dog without its owner, that may be a sign of trouble.  Seek help if you are able and let the dog lead you to its master.

    While therapy and emotional support dogs provide a valuable benefit, they are not assistance dogs. They receive different training.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Acknowledge and honor assistance dogs by raising awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs. Use #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek in social media communications.

    HISTORY

    Assistance Dog International, a coalition of not-for-profit associations, created International Assistance Dog Week to recognize and raise awareness surrounding these very important canines.

     

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  • STOP ON RED WEEK – First Full Week in August

    STOP ON RED WEEK – August 7-10

    Stop On Red Week is observed in August to educate the public and bring awareness to the number and severity of intersection crashes. This event provides a great opportunity to promote safe driving and remind drivers of the dangers of running red lights.

    The first stop sign appeared in Detroit in 1915. It wasn’t until the late 1920s the now-familiar red background was standardized as the color to be used. In 1922 the American Association of State Highway Officials adopted the octagon shape. The shape and color red made it less likely to be confused with other signs and to let oncoming traffic know they must stop.

    Sliding through stop signs is among the most common causes of accidents on the road. In 2016, 808 people were killed and 137,000 were injured as a result of drivers running red lights. In the same year, 39% of people were injured in crashes in which motorists ran traffic controls. Pedestrians, bicyclists or occupants in vehicles make up for over half the deaths caused by running red lights.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Find out how Stop On Red Week is observed in your community. Join the effort by signing the Stop on Red Pledge at https://ncsrsafety.org/stop-red-pledge/. And remember, red means STOP.

    Use #StopOnRed in social media postings.

    HISTORY

    The Federal Highway Administration created the campaign in 1995

     

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  • SATCHMO SUMMERFEST – August 4-6

     Sactchmo Summerfest - Week of August 4

    SATCHMO SUMMERFEST

    Satchmo SummerFest (also known as Satchmofest) is an annual music festival held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Celebrating the jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the festival takes place in early August and coincides with Armstrong’s August 4 birthday.

    Jazz is America’s great original art form and no other place is more closely associated with jazz than New Orleans. Satchmo Summerfest it is held on the grounds of the old New Orleans Mint near the historic French Quarter.

    Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong is considered to be one of the most gifted and influential American performers of the twentieth century. His influence extends well beyond jazz. His artistry and personality allowed him access to the upper echelons of society around the world. Armstrong’s impact on the music is immeasurable. As a virtuoso trumpet player and vocalist, he had a hand in shaping the development of jazz and rock and roll in the mid-twentieth century.

    Satchmo SummerFest has evolved over the years into “a mini-JazzFest.” With three days of outdoor concerts, music history seminars, jazz exhibits, a jazz mass, a second-line parade and local food delicacies and drinks, the festival has become a travelers’, as well as a local, favorite.

    While visiting “The Big Easy,” we encourage you to check out all the great features the city has to offer, including the Cajun culture! Explore the bayous of Louisiana by boat or enjoy a steamboat cruise on the legendary Mississippi. Learn about the voodoo side of the Big Easy with a guided tour of the city’s most eerie locations. Learn about life in the bayou before, during and after the Civil War.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Attend Satchmo Summerfest and celebrate the legacy of one of our greatest entertainers. Use #SatchoSummerfest on social media postings.

    HISTORY

    The Satchmo Summerfest was founded in 2001 and is sponsored by the French Quarter Festival, Inc. and the city of New Orleans.

     

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  • INTERNATIONAL BAT NIGHT (U.S., Europe) – Last Full Weekend of August

    INTERNATIONAL BAT NIGHT (U.S., Europe)

    International Bat Night encourages us to learn more about this mostly nocturnal creature. It takes place each year during last full weekend of August. Bat Night started in 1997 and thirty countries celebrate the event to inform the public about the needs and benefits of bats in nature.

    Despite what movies and novels might say, bats play an important part in keeping balance in nature. They consume insects that spread disease and damage crops. In the United States, little brown bats common in Kansas, use their echolocation to eat over 1,000 mosquitoes in a single hour. Bats help distribute plants by passing seeds through their feces. The spread of Guano seeds through bats is the main factor for tropical rainforest reforestation.

    Other Benefits

    Long associated with all things dark and creepy, bats are in fact a friend of man. International Bat Night sets out to dispel the myths and point out that bats are mostly harmless to people. Only three of the thousand-plus species are actually bloodsuckers. Vampire bats are found in the tropics of Mexico, Central and South America, generally consume the blood of sleeping cattle or horses. With sharp teeth, a quick nip usually goes unnoticed by the sleeping animals. Yet even vampire bats have proved to be a benefit. Doctors have studied the anticoagulant qualities of their bites and have used that knowledge in developing medication for heart disease and stroke patients. The greatest threat to people is in the possibility of transmitting rabies.

    Blind as Bat?

    The expression “blind as a bat” comes from the assumption that a bat’s sense of sight isn’t very good. However, bats have much better vision than humans do and see incredibly well both day and night. The expression “blind as a bat” comes from this assumption. Bats emit a high pitch sound that resonates and bounces off of objects around them, this echolocation (sort of like sonar) helps bats pinpoint the exact location of insects and grab their dinner on the go.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalBatDay

    With over 1,200 species of bats, there is plenty to celebrate. Check with your local zoo or the biology department at your area college or university to find out if Bat Night is being observed in your community. We hope you will join us in going to “bat” for them!

    Use #InternationalBatNight in social media.

    Educators and parents, visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for projects designed to help you #CelebrateEveryDay!

    HISTORY

    In our research, we were unable to determine the origin of International Bat Night.

     

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  • WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK – First 7 days of August

    WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

    World Breast Feeding Week is observed from August 1-7 to coincide with the World Alliance For Breastfeeding Action.  The week-long celebration marks the anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration, which was founded in 1990. The Innocenti Declaration and World Breastfeeding Week promote awareness of the unique needs of breastfeeding parents worldwide.

    Breastfeeding impacts the health of the mother and child in a positive way.  One of the long-term benefits research of breastfeeding includes reducing the baby’s risk of contracting particular health problems later in life, such as asthma, Type I and II diabetes and obesity. Infants who are breastfed are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breast milk contains substances that promote sleep and calmness in babies. As a result, mothers can get more rest, too! Another benefit of breastfeeding mothers can reduce their risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Breastfeeding helps the mother heal faster during postpartum, encouraging her uterus to return to pre-pregnancy size quicker and lowering overall postpartum blood loss.

    BREASTFEEDING ADVOCACY

    As of summer, 2018 it is legal to breastfeed in public in all fifty states of the U.S. The last states to legalize public breastfeeding were Idaho and Utah. In the same year, New Jersey expanded its civil rights law to protect nursing mothers from discrimination at work, joining 28 states that offer similar protections. New York state will require breastfeeding rooms in all state buildings open to the public beginning in 2019.

    In 2017 Australian Senator Larissa Waters created a sensation when she breastfed her three-month-old daughter while addressing Parliament. She responded to the media by saying,

    “I think it’s slightly ridiculous that feeding one’s baby is international news — women have been breastfeeding for as long as time immemorial.” – Larissa Waters

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    World Breastfeeding Week encourages awareness and education. Learn how you can be more informed and support the rights of breastfeeding mothers you know.  Learn how breastfeeding habits are promoted in your community.

    #Use WorldBreastFeedingWeek in social media.

    HISTORY

    World Breastfeeding Week was founded in 1991 by the World Alliance For Breastfeeding Action.

     

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  • STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY – Includes First Full Week in August

    STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY

    Each year in August thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts make their way to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The 10-day event begins on the Friday before the first full week of August and ends on the second Sunday in August. With the average population estimated to be around 6,000 permanent residents, Sturgis becomes the rally of all motorcycles rallies.

    The first rally was meager compared to today’s rally which draws one-half million people.  In 1938, the inaugural rally featured only a single racing event.  With a whopping increase in population, the Sturgis event generates $800 million in revenue for the small town.

    The Pappy Hoel and Jackpine Gypsy motorcycle club founded the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 1938. When gas-rationing began during World War II, the rally stalled preventing riders from traveling. Today, the Jackpine Gypsies still own and operate the tracks, hill climb and field areas where the rally is centered.

    Riders rally around their causes through a variety of events. Whether through the Sturgis 5k Run, Military Appreciation Day, the “Street Food Throw Down,” or rally races, there are events for everyone. In recent years, country star Trace Adkins, Foreigner, Kid Rock and Lynrd Skynrd have entertained at Sturgis. One of the highlights of the week, Military Appreciation Day honors veterans and their families, past and present. The Sturgis rally is also a place for love and marriage. Weddings often have taken place during the rally.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Plan to attend next summer in Sturgis. While in Sturgis for the rally, you can take advantage of several historic sites in the region, including Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Historic Deadwood, Bear Butte State Park, Badlands National Park and Devil’s Tower National Monument, all within a few hours’ ride.

    Use #SturgisRally in social media.

    HISTORY

    The rally was founded in 1938 by the Pappy Hoel on behalf of the Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club.

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  • SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE WEEK – First Week in August

    SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE WEEK

    Simplify Your Life Week is observed during August of each year. This holiday encourages those who need to refocus their lives and declutter – that doesn’t just mean objects. The idea is to eliminate anything that causes stress or anxiety. Most of us have a tendency to clutter up our lives, both physically and psychologically.

    “We’re all familiar with the idea of spring cleaning, but some late-summer simplifying is a great way to keep the clutter to a minimum going into fall. But simplifying your life isn’t just about removing the physical clutter out of your life. It’s meant to make us look closer at our lifestyle, and eliminate the things that keep us from enjoying life.” ~Ideal Living website

    There are many ways we can simplify our lives. Simplification at work involves saving energy and balancing projects to work more efficiently and prevent fatigue. Alternating between light and heavy tasks can help our body and mind stay focused throughout the day. Planning work projects helps things go more smoothly when approaching deadlines.

    Simplifying our environments at home is always a good practice to have. The easiest way to do this is the scale down our lifestyle. Organizing through schedules often work for families who have a lot of activities outside the home. Schedules keep everyone on task and support a well-balanced home life. Families that follow schedules help children develop self-discipline later in life. While most of us probably struggle with too much social activity outside of work and home, we still have a problem with saying no. On occasion, we have people in our lives that cause stress. It can be tough to eliminate these people from your life, but it’s worth it in the end. Life is too short to be hampered by people who cause more problems than they are worth.

    There are so many ways we can simplify our lives. Taking a break from social media is one activity that can help refine our life. By logging off once and a while, we allow ourselves to find other things to accomplish or get in that needed afternoon nap. We need to choose simplification that best suits our own needs. It’s important to remember we are all different and situations affect us uniquely. Once you find what works for you, stick with it.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Think about limiting what you allow in your life. Use #SimplifyYourLife in social media postings.

    HISTORY

    In our research, we were unable to determine the origin of Simplify Your Life Week.

     

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  • INTERNATIONAL CLOWN WEEK – First Week in August

    INTERNATIONAL CLOWN WEEK

    International Clown Week is celebrated each year during the first week in August.

    Members of the Clowns of America International group celebrate the entire week hosting special activities and events. Volunteers perform shows and clowns host performances. Some clown members have their local mayor declare the week as a city celebration to coincide with the International Clown Week.

    Clown Week began some time in the 1950’s. Walt “Wabo” Savage is believed to be the man behind the original Clown Week. He reportedly picked August because it coincided with the birthdays of both his daughters. In 1966, Ray Bickford, President of Clown Club of America, appointed Frank “Kelly the Clown” Kelly, as the first International Clown Week chairman. Bill “Boom Boom” Bailey, a member of Clowns of America, was the first American chairman of National Clown Week.

    Clown Culture

    Becoming a clown is serious business. Not just anyone can clown around every day. The training is nothing to joke about because clowns take their jobs seriously enough to have a code of ethics known as The Eight Clown Commandments. They also have an official prayer. Clowning around is not allowed during performances. Unless you’re being funny, then clowning around is a requirement.

    Clowns come in many forms.  On Weary Willie Day, celebrate the clown who made the sad hobo famous.  They create their own characters and storylines. Like celebrities do, many clowns will develop a following. For example, Bozo the Clown from children’s television with his iconic red hair and Soupy Sales, also known for his children’s television persona. There’s also Willard Scott who first portrayed another redheaded clown with giant shoes – the hamburger-selling Ronald McDonald.

    Unfortunately, not all people think clowns are fun. Many people have a fear of clowns known as Coulrophobia. Celebrities such as Daniel Radcliffe and Johnny Depp are among those celebrities who suffer from coulrophobia.

    A CLOWNS PRAYER – Author Unknown

    As I stumble through this life,
    help me to create more laughter than tears,
    dispense more happiness than gloom,
    spread more cheer than despair.
    Never let me become so indifferent
    that I will fail to see the wonder
    in the eyes of a child
    or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
    Never let me forget that my total effort
    is to cheer people, make them happy
    and forget – at least momentarily –
    all the unpleasantness in their lives.
    And, in my final moment,
    may I hear You whisper:
    ‘When you made My people smile,
    you made Me smile.’

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Attend a street performance or pursue your dream of clowning.  Are you a clown? Don your costume and put on a show!  Use #InternationalClownWeek to share your talent on social media.

    HISTORY

    President Nixon proclaimed the first official National Clown Week in 1970. The proclamation begins with “[W]hoever has heard the laughter of a child or seen sudden delight on the face of a lonely old man has understood in those brief moments mysteries deeper than love.” President Nixon believed anything that could bring smiles and joy to people, especially children should get special recognition.

    Though the proclamation declared the first week in August of 1970 as National Clown Week, the tradition continued to celebrate the clown and clowning annually.  It grew to an international event and 

     

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